Storm blowing through competition

There have already been many medal moments for the St. Mary’s Storm Grade 8/9 boys volleyball team this young season.

The team has competed in three tournaments this year, finishing with gold in Fort Macleod Sept. 13-14, bronze in its home Big Storm tournament and silver this past weekend in Irvine.

“We get a lot of offence out of Kaleb Muller who has been dominating offensively as he gets a lot of good, hitable sets. Kaleb has been our big gun. We set him out of the back row and he’s probably been the best hitter in all the tournaments we’ve had so far,” said Derry Kolody, who co-coaches the Storm team along with Pat Pyne, on how the team has been able to achieve success so far this volleyball season.

“Also a big thing is our passing to the front. We got a couple of key passers, good athletes I’ve had since Grade 6, who are in Grade 8 now that do the passing in Ryan Mankow and Jobert Cruz. They do the bulk of our passing and ball control.”

Kolody has been all over the volleyball coaching map, helping teams ease into an introductory to the sport all the way to college level, enjoying much success along the way. But whatever the level, the same drive remains the same.

“I think it’s just getting that passion installed in them and showing them it’s fun. Having success can be fun,” said Kolody. “Keeping it fun for the kids is a big thing so they will keep playing the game.”

St. Mary’s Storm boys are off to Vulcan this weekend before taking the following one off. The team returns to action the following weekend in Burdett.